Synthesis of Information Related to Highway Practices. Topic 56-11. Practices for Transportation Planning in Non-Metropolitan Areas

Rural communities traditionally have been underrepresented in transportation planning efforts by state departments of transportation (DOTs). During the early to mid-2000s, there were significant efforts to document rural consultation efforts by state DOTs, with the goal of building relationships and communication between state DOTs and rural community leaders. The goal of these efforts was to create a more widely inclusive transportation planning and project development process, consistent with statutory language in ISTEA and TEA-21, as well as the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) joint planning regulations in 2003. Early research on state outreach to rural places identified the use of regional or rural planning entities (RPE) as one effective practice for conducting local official consultation. These efforts culminated in the establishment of statutory language in the surface transportation bill MAP-21 that enabled the establishment and designation of regional transportation planning organizations (RTPOs). In addition, statewide and non-metropolitan planning language changed the relationship between states and rural local officials from “consultation” to “cooperation,” necessitating a higher level of communication. Between the date of this authorizing language and the current day, very few designated RTPOs have been established, even though over 30 states are using some form of RTPO-like entities, sometimes including RPEs. Finally, some state DOTs have responsibilities rural transit services and there may be planning or engagement associated with those activities. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this synthesis is to document state DOT practices for transportation planning in non-metropolitan areas.  

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5722
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Funding: $55000
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 20-05, Topic 56-11

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Synthesis

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC    20001

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Wadsworth, Trey

• Start Date: 20241115
• Expected Completion Date: 20260515
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Regional planning; Rural areas; Rural transportation; State departments of transportation; Transportation planning
• Subject Areas: Planning and Forecasting; Society; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01920389
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 20-05, Topic 56-11
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: May 31 2024 8:29PM